Revamp state-owned enterprises to create employment — PUSAG

Private Universities Students
Association of Ghana

The Private Universities Students Association of Ghana, (PUSAG), has called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, revamp state owned enterprises to create employment for the teeming youth, especially university graduates.

It said the government ‘s commitment to addressing youth unemployment would only yield results, if it revamped these mismanaged enterprises that used to generate employment significantly in the country.

There are over 100 state-owned enterprises that were built by Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which are currently non-operational as a result of mismanagement.

The association said the high unemployment rate in Ghana if not urgently addressed would make the country one with the highest unemployment rate in the world.

The General Secretary of PUSAG, Mr Ernest Mensah Bediako, made the call at a news conference in Accra on the theme: “Private university students: The fuel for Ghana’s socio-economic development” yesterday to address issues of national interest and concerns of PUSAG.

“Though unemployment has taken a global dimension, the failure on the part of our governments to provide the avenues for job acquisitions has much to do with economic policies,” he said.

For the economy to grow to benefit Ghanaians and to provide the much needed avenue for employment, there is also the essential need for the government to invest in private businesses, especially tertiary education and industrialisation, he added.

Mr Mensah Bediako further called on the government to invest in the development of quality human resource to help propel the development of the country.

On the 2012 election petition, Mr Mensah Bediako  asked Ghanaians to trust and accept the verdict of the Supreme Court judges and avoid any act that would tarnish the image of the country’s hard won reputation globally.

He said  they were in talks with students representative councils of the various private universities in the country to see how best they could sensitise their colleagues to the need to maintain peace before during and after the verdict.

He also said PUSAG would use its upcoming national delegate’s congress slated for August 15-18 in Koforidua, to sensitise  its members to the need to contribute their quota to the relative peace in the country”

Mr Mensah Bediako disclosed that PUSAG  would honour the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu, at its congress in Koforidua  for his bold stance against corruption.

“ We believe the his remarkable effort in fighting for justice on behalf Ghanaians has gone a long way to deepen our democratic credibility , and history will adjudge him as one of Ghana’s strongest and most dedicated public advocates”, he said.